Tech News

The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G we've been hearing about since last month has been certified by Bluetooth SIG, moving it a step closer to the launch. The listing on the organization's site doesn't tell us any specs of the A32 5G other than confirming Bluetooth 5.0, but it does reveal the smartphone will have three model designations - SM-A326B_DS, SM-A326BR_DS, and SM-A326B. The last one has appeared in HTML5 and Geekbench tests with Android 11, 4GB RAM, and Dimensity 720 SoC. Galaxy A32 5G gets Bluetooth certified The Galaxy A32 5G has also appeared on FCC with model designation...

2020 was an interesting year for Google. After releasing its first mid-ranger with the the Pixel 3a in 2019 the company eschewed the flagship segment altogether in 2020. The Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 all use Snapdragon 700 series chipsets and have a total of 8 cameras between them including the selfie snappers. The shift from proper flagship hardware, meant Google doubled-down on software as the core of a great experience. A very "in-character" decision for the search giant, but Pixel traditionalists found it a bit hard to accept. Loser: Google Pixel 4a Going in...

The terribly bizarre 2020 is finally behind us and here we are, hoping for a fresh start. We can only hope the next twelve months will be calmer, safer, and happier. Thank you for being with us through this loooong year that felt like a rollercoaster, but we’re ending on a high. The year has been extremely busy, even from the confinements of our own homes. With hard work and perseverance, we surpassed 1 million subscribers on our YouTube channel, even if we were on the brink of actually closing it after it got hijacked. We posted over 6,100 news articles, trying to filter all the...

As the year winds down it's a great time to reflect on the top stories of the past 12 months. This is the fourth and final installment where we look at the stories that shaped this year. It's time to close out the 2020 issue of our top stories. We're looking at the months of October through to December and for the first time ever, this is the time Apple unveiled its phones. After many reports and leaks, the iPhone 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, 12 mini and iPhone 12 were all unveiled on October 13. It was only the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and 12 that went on sale the week following the event,...

As a rule, whenever we talk about new software updates, especially major ones, we advise you to install as soon as possible, in order to get all the new features and security fixes. Sometimes, though, rollouts are botched and updates do bad things to phones. That's exactly what seems to be happening to the Xiaomi Mi A3. The update to Android 11 has started rolling out for this Android One device, but a lot of reports from users have popped up saying that the update is basically rendering their handsets completely useless after installation - this is otherwise known as bricking. So...

LG's saying goodbye to 2020 with a bang, releasing a new software update for the Wing that brings some nice user experience enhancements. First and foremost, after installing the new software you'll be able to easily move an app between the two screens by swiping with three fingers. Additionally, app, widget, and folder names are now displayed on the second Home screen, the camera app gains support for scanning QR codes, there's a new screen showing up if you skip the Wi-Fi menu in the Setup Wizard, the 5G icon is now white instead of gray, and you get an expanded wallpaper selection too....

DisplayMate has concluded its tests of the Xiaomi Mi 11 display and found it to be an excellent panel – it got a final score of A+, the highest in the DM ranking system, earning a Very Good or higher rating in almost every tests performed. The display has close to perfect calibration when running in sRGB or DCI-P3 modes, it t has perfect 100% coverage of those color gamuts in the respective modes. Auto Color tends to boost saturation and contrast to make images pop, while Saturated mode goes above and beyond and reaches 139% sRGB and 111% DCI-P3 coverage. Spectra for the Auto Color...

The Huawei P50 Pro will be smaller than its predecessor, according to info from @OnLeaks, who published the first tantalizing render of the upcoming flagship. The display will measure 6.6”, which means it’s closer in size to the P40 than the P40 Pro (which has a 6.76” panel). The left and right sides of the display still have a curve with a very tight radius, but Huawei won’t repeat mistakes of the past – there are hardware buttons on the side. This design keeps the phone as compact as possible. It will measure 159 mm tall and 73 mm wide, which is again closer to the vanilla P40 than...

There’s no time to waste – the iQOO 7 will be officially unveiled on January 11 and the phone still has things to check off its to-do list. It already ran AnTuTu (iQOO mentioned the results in a Weibo post), now it has gone through Geekbench too. Version 5.1.0 of the benchmark specifically. iQOO 7 putting its Snapdragon 888 chipset to the Geekbench test We note this because Qualcomm posted official results for the Snapdragon 888 chipset, but those were done on the 5.0.2 version of the test. Xiaomi also posted official results from the Mi 11, though it neglected to specify the...

Earlier this month Oppo unveiled the 5G connected duo of the Reno5 and Reno5 Pro. Now the company quietly launched a 4G version of the Reno5. It is fairly similar to its sibling, with some key differences – the connectivity, of course, which that also necessitated a new chipset. Or rather an old one. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 720G chipset, which was also used in the Reno4 4G from a few months ago. The new model brings several improvements over the 4-series to put it more in line with the other Reno5 models. The Oppo Reno5 4G upgrades the 6.4” AMOLED panel to 90Hz...

The Xiaomi Mi 11 is the first Snapdragon 888-powered phone and Xiaomi will enjoy a short exclusivity period. That will soon come to an end, however, as leakster Digital Chat Station reports that there are a few more on the way. The first is the iQOO 7, which is officially set for a January 11 unveiling. Next up is the vivo X60 Pro+, following the launch of the X60 and X60 Pro, both of which use the Exynos 1080. According to DCS these will be the three 888-powered phones that will be available China in January (Mi 11’s flash sale is scheduled for January 1). Then there’s the Realme Koi...

The Galaxy S21 series will be unveiled earlier than usual and the first official teaser video is already out. Titled “A new Galaxy awaits” the short 30-second clip is a stylish rehash of the design evolution of the entire S-series. The video is currently set as “unlisted” on the Samsung US channel. The company is also sending out animated invites for the upcoming event (below). It’s a little abstract, but it appears to be a teaser for the upgraded telephoto camera. The Galaxy S21 Ultra will have a new 10x folded periscope and a 3x standard tele lens, according to the...

Xiaomi VP Manu Kumar Jain has joined in the teaser campaign for the Xiaomi Mi 10i 5G. He posted a video describing the upcoming phone as an “extension” to the Mi 10, Mi 10T, Mi 10T Pro and even the Mi 10T Lite. That’s quite a family tree. Anyway, the Mi 10i has been specifically designed for India and uses a brand new camera sensor – a 108MP camera, as seen in the numerous teasers that have come out recently. The full announcement will be on January 5. 'i' for #India 🇮🇳Launching the all-new flagship #Mi10i where the 'i" stands for India. 🇮🇳"i" = #MadeForIndia, #MadeInIndia, Customised...

Cyberpunk 2077 is the latest title from Polish game studio CD Project Red, the same company that brought us the successful Witcher series. Announced first in 2012, Cyberpunk 2077 went through multiple delays before it was finally launched on December 10 on Windows, PS4, Xbox One, and Stadia. It would be an understatement to say that Cyberpunk 2077 was one of the most hyped game launches in recent memory. While the initial announcement did happen in 2012, it wasn't until the developers showcased the game at E3 2018 when it suddenly exploded in popularity. Then last year, the studio...

The Galaxy S series has proven to be a resounding success for Samsung. These devices continue to be among the most sought after Android flagships every year. Samsung has introduced some major innovations with the series over the past few years.

As we approach the launch of the Galaxy S21, the company has put out a new teaser which highlights the history of this series. It builds anticipation for what to expect from the Galaxy S21 lineup.

New Galaxy S21 teaser delivers a memory refresh

It all started with the original Galaxy S in 2010. Major improvements were made with subsequent models with notable upgrades being introduced. The Galaxy S5 had the distinction of being water resistant.

Samsung revamped the look and feel of its flagship phones with the Galaxy S6 lineup by switching to a metal and glass build. The Galaxy S7 brought back water resistance while the Galaxy S8 ditched the home button in favor of larger screens.

The Galaxy S10 took it a step further with the Infinity-O display and further refinements to the design. The 2020 flagship, the Galaxy S20 lineup, brought significant camera upgrades and larger displays.

A new Galaxy awaits, teases Samsung, making no secret of the fact that a new flagship is coming soon. From what we know so far, the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ and the Galaxy S21 Ultra will receive design upgrades, new internals and camera upgrades.

Reports suggest that Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S21 series at a virtual launch event on January 14, 2021. The handsets will be released before the end of the month.

The post New Galaxy S21 teaser highlights the history of the series appeared first on SamMobile.

Realme continues its meteoric rise, posting some amazing growth figures even though it's no longer a small startup. Its 2020 lineup was marked by insanely short model turnover in the constant battle to offer something just that little extra bit cheaper or flashier, as fast as possible. That lead to a number of excellent successful products, but also plenty of misfires and experiments gone wrong and everything in between. Winner: Realme 7 Pro Currently the most popular Realme phone in our database, the Realme 7 Pro has plenty going for it. Probably one of the best things about Realme’s...

I won't lie, it's been a tough year. Just to make myself clear I've enjoyed staying at home and not meeting people and all that, and it has given me the opportunity to reignite my past love for quiet indoor hobbies otherwise hampered by all the going to places (yeah, as if). No, I'm talking about finding a phone that would make me run to the store on launch day. Or maybe pre-order. Whichever is the more rushed and impulsive of the two. Perhaps I should just accept that I'm no longer a run-to-the-store kind of guy? Anyway, I do have a list of phones that I feel are worth saying a few...

In 2020 Oppo had quite the upturns in multiple fields. It launched plenty of new phones, expanded its ecosystem of smart gadgets, and even had some cool concept devices to share with us. Here’s which devices were the real winners and which ones came short of the mark. Winner: Oppo Find X2 Pro We have to start with the new Find X phone, the first one since 2018, and a full-blown flagship with all the bells and whistles that make a smartphone great. The Oppo Find X2 Pro has pretty much everything you want from a flagship - AMOLED screen, top-notch chipset, great camera, ultra-fast...

A new patent has been granted to Apple by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The company has been toying with the idea of a new kind of keyboard to be used on its computers. This keyboard would feature configurable keys that contain tiny displays to label its function. Imagine a keyboard with “dynamic labels” that would change depending on what you are doing. This is already kind of like what Apple’s Touch Bar already does on its MacBook Pro models – instead, the entire keyboard would be able to show a different keyboard layout for another language, or perhaps it could show the keys’...

Samsung has introduced a new special edition Galaxy Z Fold 2 for Vietnam. It’s called the Galaxy Z Fold 2 Limited Edition Collection – Spring 2021 and customers have an opportunity to pre-order it before January 7.

Interestingly, Samsung Vietnam isn’t selling the new Limited Edition Collection alongside the standard Galaxy Z Fold 2. Instead, what seems to be happening here is Samsung has replenished the Galaxy Z Fold 2 stocks in Vietnam after the foldable phone’s unexpected success in the country, and the company has decided to make the new batch a little bit more special.

Galaxy Z Elite Privilege cards make a comeback

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 Limited Edition Collection – Spring 2021 includes the standard foldable smartphone-tabled hybrid in Mystic Bronze. It’s the same foldable flagship as before, however, the retail box includes a handful of goodies and incentives.

To begin with, the Galaxy Z Elite Privilege card that was originally reserved for early pre-order customers in Vietnam is now making a comeback and it’s included in the special edition retail box. The card is valid until September 25, 2021, and those who possess it will enjoy preferential treatment and discounts of up to 35% on non-foldable Galaxy smartphones, and up to 45% off consumer electronics with the exception of 8K TVs.

In addition, the Limited Edition Collection includes a Premium Leather Case, Samsung Care+ extended warranty, and it even lets customers choose the color of the hinge. All these goodies are wrapped in a new Limited Edition Collection retail box adorned with Lotus flowers. The Lotus is Vietnam’s national flower and it’s considered a symbol of purity, commitment, serenity and optimism for the future.

You can refer to the links below for more details on this new special edition for Vietnam and/or the Galaxy Z Fold 2 itself. Not much has changed regarding the phone or the foldable scene over the past few months so our review is just as relevant now as it was a few months ago.

Galaxy Z Fold 2 review

• Pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold 2 Limited Collection – Spring 2021 at Samsung Vietnam.

The post New Galaxy Z Fold 2 batch for Vietnam comes in as a Limited Collection appeared first on SamMobile.

As more and more movies premiere on streaming services instead of movie theaters (most of which are closed right now), a debate has started – can a TV really recreate the theater experience? Samsung has partnered with studios, filmmakers and other manufacturers to solve this problem. Upcoming Samsung QLED TVs will feature HDR10+ Adaptive and Filmmaker Mode, which will work hand in hand to show movies just as the director intended. HDR content is best viewed in a darkened room (just like a theater), but most viewers can’t or don’t want to turn off the lights and draw the curtains when...

Verizon just sneaked in another monthly firmware update for the Galaxy S20 series. Or tried to, at least, but we’re still hazy on the details. The official changelog from the wireless carrier is pretty generic and appears to be a simple copy-paste job reiterating the contents of the previous over-the-air update that Verizon started rolling out earlier this month.

As it turns out, that was a pretty major release, seeing how it included an upgrade to One UI 3.0 based on Google’s Android 11. Be that as it may, a new firmware package, identified by version number RP1A.200720.012.G988USQU1CTL4, is now making its way to owners of the Galaxy S20-series devices on Verizon’s national network.

Are Verizon’s software update practices finally approaching acceptable levels?

Verizon started deploying the said update last week and no other carrier in the United States or abroad appears to have followed suit with a second Android 11-based update. Meaning we’re most likely looking at something that Verizon cobbled together after identifying at least one crucial defect in its original implementation of Samsung’s software.

Such missteps aren’t anything too out of the ordinary. That’s especially true for stateside mobile service providers who have a tendency to pre-load all sorts of shovelware onto their smartphones. Naturally, the more mandatory apps you have in your OS base, the trickier it is to optimize general-purpose updates in a timely and problem-free manner.

Though we can’t say Verizon hasn’t been improving on the update timeliness front over the last several years. Granted, it’s still difficult to say how much of that progress is directly thanks to the company actively intensifying its efforts. As we might simply be looking at some long-overdue results of Project Treble.

Galaxy S20 5G

• Model: SM-G981U
• Dimensions: Bar: 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.2 inch / 157.48 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Snapdragon 865
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S20+ 5G

• Model: SM-G986U
• Dimensions: Bar: 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.7 inch / 170.18 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Snapdragon 865
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G

• Model: SM-G988U
• Dimensions: Bar: 166.9 x 76.0 x 8.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.9 inch / 175.26 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Snapdragon 865
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

The post Verizon squeezes in a sneaky Galaxy S20 update before year-end appeared first on SamMobile.

The Snapdragon 888-powered iQOO 7 has appeared on AnTuTu with a score of 752,935 points, which is 17,496 more than what the chipset scored on a Qualcomm reference device with 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB UFS 3.0 storage onboard. The iQOO 7, on the other hand, used the same amount of LPDDR5 RAM but has 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. However, it is worth noting that the unit that ran the benchmark test is a prototype and we can still see performance differences with the retail version. In addition to revealing the RAM and storage amount, AnTuTu also confirmed that iQOO 7 will pack a 120Hz...

Would you like to welcome the new year with a new smartwatch? Then don’t miss the chance to participate in our latest contest. One lucky winner will receive the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 from SamMobile!

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is one of the best smartwatches that Samsung has made. It has an elegant design, great health and fitness features in addition to long-lasting battery life. Check out our detailed Galaxy Watch Active 2 review to learn more.

It’s actually very simple to take part in this contest. Just follow our official Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts and let us know in the comments why you’d like to win the Galaxy Watch Active 2. Remember, you must follow us on all three platforms, like and share the contest post in order to be eligible to win.

The contest is open to participants in all countries. The winner will be announced on January 11, 2021. Good luck!

The post [Giveaway] Get a chance to win a Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2! appeared first on SamMobile.

A new affordable Realme smartphone has popped up on Geekbench. It has the model number RMX3092 and comes with Dimensity 720 chipset with 5G modem. The benchmark also reveals 8GB RAM and, somewhat disappointingly, Android 10. We are unsure as to what like the upcoming phone - it is the first one a number 3 after the code letters RMX, so it could be a member of a whole new line. Alleged Realme 8 on Geekbench The chipset and less-than-current Android version clearly indicate that it's not a flagship we have here, so another theory is that we are looking at the Realme 8. We expect...

The Galaxy S21 is still shaping up to be the cheapest addition to Samsung’s Android flagship series in quite a few years. Namely, yet another report out of South Korea pointing toward this likelihood emerged earlier today. Industry sources close to Samsung now estimate the Galaxy S21 series will retail at between 980,000 and 1.18 million won, which amounts to a $900-$1,085 range.

This potential ambit is in line with initial industry rumors about the Galaxy S21 pricing, if only just barely. Yet the implication of such a price level remains quite significant, seeing how the Galaxy S20 debuted at the equivalent of $999 earlier this year.

Has the Galaxy S line reached its absolute price ceiling?

An $899 introductory price would make the Galaxy S21 the cheapest “founding” member of the said premium smartphone family since the Galaxy S7 launched at 836,000 won – which amounted to just over $750 four years ago. So, not accounting for any Lite variants, fan editions, and the like.

But speaking of which, the same report asserts that the uplifting performance of the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition greatly affected the manner in which Samsung decided to price the Galaxy S21 series.

It’s still too early to speculate how a 10% lower pricing point will reflect on Samsung’s bottom line. Assuming it ends up being accurate, of course; though that seems all but confirmed, at this point. Regardless, it would appear the Galaxy S family hit its price ceiling with the 2020 generation. Whether it would have still done so if a global pandemic hasn’t taken hold is difficult to ascertain going off on today’s data – but also pretty much irrelevant.

The Galaxy S21 series is scheduled to become official in mid-January, two weeks ahead of its global release. With that said, it’s likely that Samsung will cut its pre-orders short.

The post Galaxy S21 might be Samsung’s cheapest addition to the series in years appeared first on SamMobile.

Honor is expected to launch its V40 series in January 2021, and one of its members has already gone through Game Bench. The listing revealed the phone with designation NWE-AN10 runs Android 10 and sports a Mali-G77 MC9 GPU. It was also able to reach 90fps suggesting it has the screen to match it. Honor V40 benchmarked at GameBench Leaksters already revealed the NWE-AN10 is an Honor V40 device, but we still don’t know whether it is the vanilla version or the Pro, or some third option. However, we do know the GPU is part of the Dimensity 1000+ chipset by Mediatek - a platform that is...

Following the Android 11-based One UI 3.0 update for the Galaxy Note20 and S20 series, Samsung is now rolling out a stable update for the Galaxy Note10 and Note10+ in Europe. German Note10 users can now update their phones to the latest firmware which bears the N97xFXXU6ETLL build number and also brings the December security patch. Software info after One UI 3 update on Galaxy Note10+ This update is actually coming a month ahead of schedule according to a previous One UI 3.0 rollout roadmap. The new update is currently seeding in Germany but is expected to make its way to more...

Samsung chairman Lee Jae-yong is currently undergoing a retrial for accounting fraud, bribery, and stock manipulation charges. Due to his father’s death, Lee was absent from the retrial proceedings to attend the funeral of Lee Kun-hee. The prosecution is now demanding a prison sentence of up to nine years for Lee.

According to South Korean publication Yonhap News, prosecutors said that Lee deserves nine years in prison, given Samsung’s position and the severity of his wrongdoings. The prosecution also said that his imprisonment would also set an example in South Korea. The retrial related to the famous bribery scandal, which involved former South Korean President Park Geun-Hye’s close friend Choi Soon-Sil, began three months ago.

It is alleged that Lee bribed Choi Soon-Sil to force the merger of Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T so that he could take control of Samsung Group from his then-ailing father. The case first began a few years ago, and Lee was sentenced to five years in prison. However, his prison sentence was cut short to 2.5 years and he was soon released.

Since the retrial began a few months ago, Lee has been visiting Samsung factories and R&D centers all over the world, meeting top leaders of the company, and drawing up mega plans for the company to succeed in the future. He has also been stressing the importance of Samsung’s semiconductor and foundry businesses.

The post Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong could face up to 9 years in prison appeared first on SamMobile.

vivo only announced the Y20 in August and today the company is already following it up with its 2021 model, dubbed vivo Y20 (2021). However, there aren't too many differences between the two models. The Y20 (2021) replaces the Snapdragon 460 SoC with a Helio P35 chipset, runs Funtouch OS 11 out of the box, and charges at up to 10W instead of 18W. The rest of the specs remain the same, meaning you get a 6.51" HD+ LCD, 5,000 mAh battery, and a side-mounted fingerprint reader. The vivo Y20 (2021) features a total of four cameras - an 8MP selfie shooter inside the notch and a 13MP...

The iQOO 7 was just confirmed to be unveiled on January 11 through an online event in China, which will start at 7:30PM local time. It will come with a Snapdragon 888 SoC, LPDDR5 RAM, and UFS 3.1 storage. The Chinese phone maker gave us a glimpse at the smartphone last week with a triple camera setup and BMW co-branded design. iQOO 7 The iQOO 7 is rumored to sport a 120Hz FullHD+ display and pack a 4,000 mAh battery with 120W charging. More details about the iQOO 7 should surface in the days leading to the official announcement. Source 1 | Source 2 (both in Chinese)

As reported by Telefoon NL, Samsung Netherlands’ home page contains an invitation for an event titled “The First Look 2021”. It’s set to take place on January 6 at 4PM local time (11 AM EST) and details of the event are scarce. The same invitation can also be seen on Samsung’s US home page, but this offers more information as to what the event refers to. This January 6 “First Look” event appears to have everything to do with Samsung’s CES announcements and nothing to do with smartphones. The event ‘save the date’ was posted on Samsung’s main page and the English version of the...

After releasing the One UI 3.0 update to the Galaxy S20, Galaxy Note 20, and other high-end smartphones, Samsung has released the Android 11-based One UI 3.0 stable update to the Galaxy Note 10 and the Galaxy Note 10+. The update is rolling out in Germany right now, but it could soon expand to other markets.

The new software update bears firmware version N97xFXXU6ETLL, and it brings along the December 2020 security patch to the Galaxy Note 10 and the Galaxy Note 10+. Apart from Android 11 goodies like chat bubbles, one-time permissions, media playback widget, and conversations section in the notifications shade, the new update brings One UI 3.0 features such as refreshed UI design, updated stock apps, a feature-rich keyboard, improved Dynamic Lockscreen, lock screen widgets, improved performance, and better security to the phones.

Samsung had started beta-testing One UI 3.0 for the Galaxy Note 10 and the Galaxy Note 10+ two months ago. If you are a Galaxy Note 10 or Galaxy Note 10+ user in Germany and if you still haven’t received this new update, you can check for it manually by navigating to Settings » Software update and tapping on Download and install on your phone. Alternatively, you can also download the entire firmware from our firmware section and flash it manually.

Galaxy Note 10

• Model: SM-N970F
• Dimensions: Bar: 151.0 x 71.8 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.3 inch / 160.02 mm Dynamic AMOLED Display
• CPU: Exynos 9825
• Camera: 16MP

More specifications

Galaxy Note 10+

• Model: SM-N975F
• Dimensions: Bar: 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.8 inch / 172.72 mm Dynamic AMOLED Display
• CPU: Exynos 9825
• Camera: 16MP

More specifications

The post BREAKING: Galaxy Note 10 users get Christmas gift in the form of One UI 3.0 update appeared first on SamMobile.

As reported by Telefoon NL, Samsung Netherlands’ home page contains an invitation for an event titled “The First Look 2021”. It’s set to take place on January 6 at 4PM local time (11 AM EST) and details of the event are scarce. The same invitation can also be seen on Samsung’s US home page, but this offers more information as to what the event refers to. This January 6 “First Look” event appears to have everything to do with Samsung’s CES announcements and nothing to do with smartphones. The event ‘save the date’ was posted on Samsung’s main page and the English version of the...

Samsung has permanently dropped the prices of the Galaxy A31, Galaxy M01, and the Galaxy M01s in India. This price drop comes a few weeks ahead of the launch of the Galaxy S21 series and the Galaxy A lineup for 2021. Recently, the company had also dropped the prices of the Galaxy Buds+ and the Galaxy Buds Live in India.

The Galaxy A31, which was launched in India in June 2020 with a price tag of INR 21,999 (around $300), is now being sold for just INR 17,999 (around $245). The Galaxy M01 and the Galaxy M01s have received modest price cuts compared to the Galaxy A31. The Galaxy M01, which was originally priced at INR 7,999 (around $110), now costs INR 7,499 (around $102). The Galaxy M01s was launched with a price tag of INR 9,499 (around $130), but it is now sold for INR 8,999 (around $122).

Galaxy A31, Galaxy M01, Galaxy M01s specs recap

The Galaxy A31 features a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Full HD+ display, Android 10, MediaTek Helio P65 processor, 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, a microSD card slot, a 20MP selfie camera, and a 48MP quad-camera setup at the rear. It is equipped with a dual-SIM card slot, LTE, GPS, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C port, headphone jack, a 5,000mAh battery, and 15W fast charging.

The Galaxy M01 has a 5.7-inch HD+ PLS IPS LCD display, Android 10, Snapdragon 439 SoC, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, microSD card slot, a 5MP selfie camera, a 13MP+2MP dual rear-facing camera setup, a microUSB port, and a 4,000mAh battery. It was launched in India in June 2020.

The Galaxy M01s sports a 6.2-inch HD+ PLS IPS LCD screen and comes equipped with the MediaTek Helio P22 chipset, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, an 8MP selfie camera, and a 13MP+2MP rear-facing camera. It has a fingerprint reader, microUSB port, and a 4,000mAh battery. It was launched in the Indian market in July 2020 with Android 9, but it received the Android 10 update within a couple of months.

Galaxy A31

• Model: SM-A315F
• Dimensions: Bar: 159.3 x 73.1 x 8.6 mm
  
• Display: 6.4 inch / 162.56 mm Super AMOLED Display
• CPU: Mediatek MT6768 Helio P65
• Camera: 48MP

More specifications

Galaxy M01

• Model: SM-M015F
• Dimensions: Bar: 147.5 x 70.9 x 9.8 mm
  
• Display: 5.7 inch / 144.78 mm PLS TFT LCD
• CPU: Snapdragon 439
• Camera: 13MP

More specifications

Galaxy M01s

• Model: SM-M017F
• Dimensions: Bar: 156.9 x 75.8 x 7.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.1 inch / 153.7 mm PLS TFT LCD
• CPU: Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22
• Camera: 13MP

More specifications

The post Samsung India drops the pricing of Galaxy A31, Galaxy M01, and Galaxy M01s appeared first on SamMobile.

When Samsung unveiled the Exynos 1080 processor a few days ago, the company had mentioned that the first phones using the new chipset would be from Vivo. The Chinese smartphone brand has now unveiled two new smartphones powered by the Exynos 1080: Vivo X60 and Vivo X60 Pro. Both devices are proper flagships, featuring high-end specs, design, and cameras.

The Vivo X60 and the Vivo X60 Pro+ feature 6.56-inch Super AMOLED (E3) screens with Full HD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, an in-display fingerprint reader, and a center-aligned punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera. Both phones run Android 11-based OriginOS and are equipped with the Exynos 1080 processor, 8GB/12GB LPDDR4X RAM, and 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage. The Vivo X60 is powered by a 4,300mAh battery, while the Vivo X60 Pro uses a 4,200mAh battery. They are compatible with 33W fast charging.

Vivo’s new flagship phones feature a 48MP wide-angle camera (Sony IMX598) with gimbal OIS and an F1.5 aperture, a 13MP ultrawide camera with autofocus, a 13MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom, and a 32MP selfie camera. The Vivo X60 Pro has an additional 8MP telephoto camera with a 5x optical zoom periscope lens. Both phones can record 4K 60fps videos using their rear cameras. Needless to say, they both are 5G compatible. The Vivo X60’s price starts from $535, while the Vivo X60 Pro is priced at $688.

On paper, both Vivo phones seem pretty amazing. It would be pretty great if Samsung can make mid-range and affordable high-end phones powered by the Exynos 1080 SoC. Perhaps the Galaxy A92, Galaxy Note 20 Lite, and the Galaxy S21 FE?

The post First phones powered by Exynos 1080 are proper flagships appeared first on SamMobile.

If you're looking for a cheap Android smartphone that costs $349.99, most people would recommend a Pixel 4a. But, if you're willing to settle for a slightly less great main camera, the OnePlus 7T can now be yours for the exact same price - and it's a better phone in every other respect. Interestingly, the 7T has an actual telephoto camera on the back, unlike both of its successors from 2020, the 8 and 8T. So there's also that going for it, as well as the fact that last year's flagship SoC, the Snapdragon 855+, is much better than the 730G in the Pixel 4a. The only thing you need to...

Samsung has been pushing the HDR10+ format by partnering with various studios, TV brands, and streaming services. The company has now announced HDR10+ Adaptive, an improvement over the open-source HDR10+ format, to offer optimum video quality by factoring in ambient lighting.

The HDR10+ Adaptive feature improves the HDR10+ viewing experience by adapting to the ambient lighting in the room, which means that it will offer optimal quality regardless of lighting conditions. It utilizes the TV’s ambient light sensor to measure ambient light and make necessary adjustments. It also makes sure that there no loss of details or contrast in the process of making adjustments. Dolby has a similar feature and it is called Dolby Vision IQ.

Samsung says that the HDR10+ Adaptive feature also supports Filmmaker Mode to offer a true cinematic experience. HDR10+ Adaptive will be available on Samsung’s 2021 QLED TV lineup that will be unveiled over the next few days. All HDR10 content that is available in Prime Video will be available as HDR10+ Adaptive on compatible Samsung TVs. The company is also working on bringing more HDR10+ content from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) and other video streaming services around the world.

Younghun Choi, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics, said, “As consumers spend more time at home, Samsung has been looking for ways to enrich consumers’ entertainment experience in the comfort of their homes. We are delighted to offer smart picture quality solutions that will enhance consumers’ at-home HDR viewing experience, bringing original-quality cinematic experience to our consumers around the world.”

Samsung’s QLED TVs come with an ambient light sensor for the Ambient Brightness feature. It remains to be seen if HDR10+ Adaptive will be exclusive to Samsung TVs or if it will be available on TVs from other brands such as Hisense, Panasonic, TCL, Toshiba, and Xiaomi.

The post Samsung’s HDR10+ Adaptive feature adjusts video quality as per ambient lighting appeared first on SamMobile.

OnePlus is currently pushing new updates to two of its recent smartphones, the 8T and the Nord. The 8T is receiving the November security patch, while the lower-end Nord is going to have the December security level, which is a weird difference, but hey - at least you're getting new security fixes no matter which of these phones you have. The changelog for the update going out to the OnePlus 8T also mentions an optimized experience for gesture navigation, an increased success rate for fingerprint unlocking, a newly added keyboard height adjustment, better image quality for Nightscape shots,...

LG's Stylo line has somewhat successfully positioned itself as a more budget-friendly alternative, to Samsung's Note family for a few years now. The main parallel between the two being the stylus, housed in the phone's body. A successor to the Stylo 6 is actually a bit overdue at this point, but earlier leaks did already indicate that the Stylo 7 is on its way. In this new leak we get a much clearer look at the Stylo 7 in higher resolution images along with some basic details, like general dimensions. The phone will sport a 6.8-inch flat display, with a punch hole for the selfie...

About two weeks ago we reported on Motorola’s upcoming Capri smartphone (model numbers XT2127-1/XT2127-2) which appeared on several certification agencies. Now we have more intel on its more powerful counterpart dubbed Capri Plus and bearing the XT2129-3 model number as it popped up in a Geekbench listing. The new Capri series phones are expected to be part of either the Moto E or Moto G lineups. The new Geekbench test run reveals Lenovo branding and scores of 306 points in the single-core department and 1,258 points on the multi-core test. It appears the device is powered by the...

Not in September, not in November, not in 2020. The Nokia 7.3 release date always seems to slide forward, but the phone does appear to be slowly working towards launch. The latest bit of info comes from TUV Rheinland Japan, which certified the batteries of two models. One is possibly the 7.3 – or it could be renamed Nokia 7.4 by the time it launches (WT340). That one is rated at a 5,050 mAh typical capacity. The other device, presumably the Nokia 6.3 (or 6.4), has a slightly smaller 4,470 mAh power cell instead (CN110). Nokia 7.3 battery with 5,050 mAh typical capacity (WT340) •...

Samsung’s 2020 range of 4K smart TV models reportedly can’t deliver the highest graphical experience for PS5 (PlayStation 5) console owners, even though TV models such as the Q70T, Q80T, Q85T, Q90T, and Q95T should technically be capable of whatever the Sony PS5 can throw at them. Now, although this might be frustrating for PS5 owners who may want to experience the console’s highest-possible graphical settings, it could be a temporary problem and it might be fixable through a firmware update.

Oddly though, Xbox Series X owners don’t have to worry about any of this. Microsoft’s new console and all its graphical features appear be fully compatible with Samsung’s 2020 4K smart TV range, so it’s not entirely clear why PS5 owners can’t enjoy a similar experience. According to reports, Samsung’s 4K TV models can play 4K SDR content at 120Hz or 4K HDR content at 60Hz. They can’t offer 4K HDR content at a high 120Hz refresh rate. PS5 owners essentially have to choose a higher framerate or HDR but they can’t have both at the same time.

This unwanted behavior seemingly occurs even with the latest firmware updates installed on Samsung’s 2020 smart TV range. The exact cause is unclear but it probably has something to do with HDMI 2.1 given all the issues that have surrounded the standard so far. Samsung will probably address this shortcoming through another firmware update but time will tell. Until then, just be aware that your Samsung smart TV doesn’t seem to be capable of delivering the best graphical experience for your PS5.

The post PSA: Your Samsung 4K smart TV can’t keep up with the PlayStation 5 appeared first on SamMobile.

Amazfit announced its new flagship smartwatches GTS 2 and GTR 2 at an event in China three months ago, and just four weeks later, the wearables escaped the domestic market, heading to the United States and the United Kingdom. The company has even bigger plans for its GT 2 lineup however and has now confirmed it will introduce “more GTS 2 and GTR 2 products” during CES 2021. The devices we expect to see are the GTS 2e and GTR 2e - the cheaper Wi-Fi-deprived versions that already debuted in China. They share the physical appearance with their vanilla siblings, but due to the limited...

Poco has been on a roll in the budget end of the market lately and the Poco M3 is arguably the best entry-level phone out now. We’ve already published our written review and now we bring you the video breakdown. The M3 packs quite the compelling spec list with a large 6.53 FHD+ display paired with a 48MP main cam and 6,000 mAh battery all packaged in a unique design for around $150/€150. It’s not the first time that Poco ventures into the entry-level segment but this time it’s striking strong. You’re getting a device that would normally be priced in midrange category. Of course,...

In the US you can already reserve a Galaxy S21, which will net you $50 to spend on accessories. That should be enough to buy a protective case for your new flagship – speaking of which, here’s an overview of S21 cases. We’ve already seen the Kvadrat cases, these are woven covers that use yarn made from recycled materials. If you prefer metal instead, there are the Rugged Standing Cover with a built-in kickstand. Galaxy S21 accessories: Kvadrat and Clear Standing covers • Silicone and Rugged Standing covers Interestingly, the new cases cover up the camera bump while cases for...

If you’re up for another Galaxy S21 leak then you probably won’t be disappointed by the latest. A few hands-on photos featuring the Galaxy S21+ in Phantom Violet have emerged via @MauriQHD and although they don’t reveal anything we didn’t already know about the phone, they still offer a good view on the actual product rather than the press renders.

The leaked hands-on photos appear to be depicting a Galaxy S21+ preview unit that’s not intended for sale. More importantly, they once again highlight some of the phone’s most attractive design features, from the unique camera bump design to the flat display with thin bezels all around. In fact, the Galaxy S21+, as seen in these photos, appears to have some of the thinnest screen bezels around.

And no, we won’t see under-display camera technology making it into the Galaxy S21, even though Samsung is exploring various unique ways in which it might tackle the challenge for future flagship models. Regardless, the Galaxy S21+ Infinity-O selfie camera cutout appears to be fairly small. And in the realm of things we’ve seen before, the leaked hands-on photos also reconfirm one of the Galaxy S21’s official wallpapers. They were all leaked a couple of weeks ago and they’re available for download – unofficially – ahead of the phone’s January 14 unveiling.

The post The Galaxy S21+ flat display with thin bezels looks gorgeous in this leak appeared first on SamMobile.

After many teasers and leaks, vivo's X60 and X60 Pro are now official and available for pre-order in China. Both phones share a specs blueprint with differences in the cameras, storage and RAM options and batteries. The common features include a 6.56-inch 2376x1080px E3 AMOLED with HDR10+ support and 120Hz refresh rate, a 5nm Exynos 1080 chipset and Android 11 under OriginOS 1.0. The vivo X60 Pro has a main 48MP f/1.5 camera (Sony IMX598 sensor) with vivo's 4-axis OIS, a 13MP 120-degree ultrawide unit that doubles as a macro camera being able to focus from just 2.5cm, 13MP 2x 50mm tele...

Xiaomi announced the Mi 11 series yesterday, but the event saw only one phone with the Pro version suspiciously missing. According to reliable leakster Digital Chat station, there is a Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro but it will arrive after the Chinese New Year (also known as Spring Festival) on February 12, 2021. Alleged Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro renders The Xiaomi Mi 11 arrived with an improved display and charging capabilities over the predecessor Xiaomi Mi 10. However, the 108MP sensor for the main camera is exactly the same one-year-old Samsung ISOCELL HM1 and the phone lacks any kind of telephoto...

Third-party case renders for the Galaxy S21 series have been leaking for a few good weeks now. They were among the first leaks to reveal some of the flagship’s new design elements, but since then the entire Galaxy S21 series has been fully unveiled in press renders that have left nothing to the imagination. Except for Samsung’s range of official cases.

Now a new batch of leaked renders depicting some of the company’s official Galaxy S21 case models emerged via MySmartPrice. They reveal a couple of LED covers, Clear covers, Leather and Protective Standing covers, and a silicone case. In addition, the renders also reveal a couple of Kvadrat textile cases for the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+. The purple Kvadrat case was spotted before but the gray variant is new.

Interestingly, not every case model is hiding the new camera bump design employed by the Galaxy S21 series. This is by far the most striking design element and, thankfully, it looks like customers might have enough case models to choose from regardless of whether they like the idea of covering the camera module or not. There might be an option for everyone.

Clear View Case appears to be wide enough for an S Pen

Samsung’s official range of cases for the Galaxy S21 series offers a wide variety of designs, materials, and color options. They look similar to the previous models but they were tailored to fit the Galaxy S21, the Galaxy S21+, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. This also means that the latter model should get at least one case accessory that features an S Pen holster.

That particular case appears to be the Clear View Case. The S Pen holster itself is not visible but @ishanagarwal24 made an interesting point about the case having an unusually-wide aspect ratio precisely because it accommodates an S Pen.

We expect most of these Galaxy S21 official cases to become available on the same date as the flagship series itself but prices have not yet been revealed. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we find out more. Until then, feel free to let us know if you plan on buying the Galaxy S21 next month and pair it with one of the official case models seen below.

Galaxy S21

• Model: SM-G991B
• Dimensions: Bar: 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.2 inch / 157.48 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 2100
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S21+

• Model: SM-G996B
• Dimensions: Bar: 161.4 x 75.6 x 7.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.7 inch / 170.18 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 2100
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S21 Ultra

• Model: SM-G998B
• Dimensions: Bar: 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.8 inch / 172.72 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 2100
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

The post Official Galaxy S21 case renders may have revealed the S Pen’s location appeared first on SamMobile.

We’ve been hearing about Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy M12 handset for a while now and it seems the phone has already entered mass production in Samsung’s factory in Noida, India. As a result we are treated to several new images of the phone’s frame. Samsung Galaxy M12 frame The first one reveals the touchscreen component of the display inside the M12’s frame which also shows a cutout on the top to accommodate the V-shaped waterdrop cutout for the selfie camera. According to past rumors, the handset is expected to launch with a 6.7-inch Infinity-V AMOLED display and HD+ resolution....

Depending on how you decide to count them, the Asus 2020 device announcements only include between two and four devices. And in fact, neither this year’s ROG Phone 3, nor the Zenfone 7 family are running Android 11 as of yet. The Taiwanese giant is being methodical about its update cycle, with Android 11 only now starting to officially pop-up on a select few Zenfone 6 devices and only in its home Taiwan market. This development is actually yet another stage in a lengthy beta process, that kicked-off all the way back in August with tester recruitment, followed-up by a few beta build...